The Ducks have set their 2026 Rookie Faceoff group and mapped out the start of rookie camp, with the action beginning in San Jose before shifting back to Irvine for a public practice.
Anaheim’s lone rookie camp session is scheduled for Friday, Sept. 11 at Great Park Ice in Irvine, beginning at 10:30 a.m. and open to the public free of charge. The club’s 2026 Rookie Faceoff roster includes 22 players: 13 forwards, seven defensemen and two goaltenders.
The roster is packed with draft capital. Anaheim listed 17 draft selections, highlighted by three first-round picks: Roger McQueen, taken 10th overall in 2025; Nikita Klepov, selected 15th overall in 2026; and Marcus Nordmark, chosen 28th overall in 2026. Eight of the Ducks’ nine 2026 NHL Draft picks are on the roster, along with two trade acquisitions, one free agent signing and two players under contract with the San Diego Gulls, the organization’s primary AHL affiliate.
There’s also some familiar turnover in the group. Six players on Anaheim’s rookie faceoff roster were part of the 2025 Golden State Rookie Faceoff, which Anaheim hosted at Great Park Ice. Eight of the players listed suited up for the San Diego Gulls in 2025-26.
San Diego’s coaching staff will run both rookie camp and the rookie tournament, with Head Coach Dave Manson joined by Assistant Coaches Kelly Buchberger and Steve McCarthy, Goaltending Coach Jeff Glass and Video Coordinator Lucas Hurrt.
The Rookie Faceoff itself runs Sept. 12-15 at Tech CU Arena and Sharks Ice at San Jose, hosted by the San Jose Sharks. Anaheim will play two games in the seven-game event against a six-team field that also includes rookies from the Colorado Avalanche, Los Angeles Kings, San Jose Sharks, Utah Mammoth and Vegas Golden Knights.
The Ducks open tournament play on Saturday, Sept. 12 against Colorado at 1 p.m. PT at Tech CU Arena, then wrap up on Sunday, Sept. 13 against Los Angeles at 3 p.m. at Orange Rink.
Every game in the tournament will be streamed live online for fans in each market, with Ducks games available at AnaheimDucks.com and featuring Ducks Stream’s new play-by-play announcer Aaron Cooney and color analyst and content contributor Emerson Etem.
Anaheim’s rookie camp and Rookie Faceoff schedule: Friday, Sept.
11: Practice at Great Park Ice, 10 a.m. Saturday, Sept.
12: Ducks vs. Colorado Avalanche, 1 p.m. at Tech CU Arena
Sunday, Sept. 13: Ducks vs.
Los Angeles Kings, 3 p.m. at Orange Rink
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